07-24-2007, 03:10 AM
CONCORD, N.H. -- Freshwater anglers should note that the New Hampshire Fish
and Game Department will hold a public hearing on proposed changes in the<br />
regulations affecting 2008 freshwater fishing in New Hampshire on Tuesday,<br />
July 24, 2007, at 6:30 p.m., at Fish and Game headquarters on Hazen Drive in<br />
Concord.Â
N.H. Fish and Game is proposing the following changes to the fish rules for<br />
2008:<br />
* Add definitions for "a cast of artificial flies" and "manmade opening"<br />
(the latter reference is to ice-fishing);<br />
* Prohibit the branching of a line for taking fish and the use of a gaff<br />
to take fish from freshwater;<br />
* Allow cusk fishing devices to be used only on waters where cusk can be<br />
found;<br />
* Change the daily limit for brook trout in Dublin Lake, Dublin, from "3<br />
fish" to "3 fish or 5 pounds of fish, whichever limit is reached first";<br />
* Reduce the minimum size limit for lake trout in South Pond in Stark<br />
from 18 inches to 15 inches;<br />
* Allow a single barbed hook on artificial lures in all waters managed<br />
for "delayed harvest," which includes portions of the Cocheco River, Lamprey<br />
River, and South Branch Piscataquog River;<br />
* Implement catch-and-release regulations on a portion of the Diamond<br />
River;<br />
* Make changes to the New Hampshire/Maine interstate water fishing rules<br />
to:<br />
- change boundary descriptions for Horn Pond and the Salmon Falls<br />
River;<br />
- change the ice fishing season to January 1 - March 31;<br />
- change the closing time for taking smelt at night from 10 p.m. to<br />
midnight;<br />
- change the open water fishing season in the Salmon Falls River to<br />
January 1 - December 31; and<br />
- change the area of Lake Umbagog that is closed to ice fishing.
Another proposed rule being discussed at the hearing would allow the<br />
Department to adopt previously effective rules that have expired and to<br />
readopt with no changes those that will be expiring at various times in<br />
2008. These rules affect persons taking bait, bait dealers and persons<br />
participating in the trophy and state record fish programs. This item does<br />
not propose any changes to what is in current rule or had previously existed<br />
in rule.
The complete fishing rulemaking notice forms, with original and proposed<br />
rule language, may be found at<br />
http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Legislat...ummary.htm.
Written comments on the proposed changes may be submitted by August 3,<br />
2007. E-mail to comments@wildlife.nh.gov (please specify "Comments on<br />
Fishing Rules" in subject line); fax to (603) 271-1438; or mail to Executive<br />
Director, N.H. Fish and Game Department, 11 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH 03301.Â
The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department is the guardian of the state's<br />
fish, wildlife and marine resources and their habitats. Visit<br />
http://www.FishNH.com.
and Game Department will hold a public hearing on proposed changes in the<br />
regulations affecting 2008 freshwater fishing in New Hampshire on Tuesday,<br />
July 24, 2007, at 6:30 p.m., at Fish and Game headquarters on Hazen Drive in<br />
Concord.Â
N.H. Fish and Game is proposing the following changes to the fish rules for<br />
2008:<br />
* Add definitions for "a cast of artificial flies" and "manmade opening"<br />
(the latter reference is to ice-fishing);<br />
* Prohibit the branching of a line for taking fish and the use of a gaff<br />
to take fish from freshwater;<br />
* Allow cusk fishing devices to be used only on waters where cusk can be<br />
found;<br />
* Change the daily limit for brook trout in Dublin Lake, Dublin, from "3<br />
fish" to "3 fish or 5 pounds of fish, whichever limit is reached first";<br />
* Reduce the minimum size limit for lake trout in South Pond in Stark<br />
from 18 inches to 15 inches;<br />
* Allow a single barbed hook on artificial lures in all waters managed<br />
for "delayed harvest," which includes portions of the Cocheco River, Lamprey<br />
River, and South Branch Piscataquog River;<br />
* Implement catch-and-release regulations on a portion of the Diamond<br />
River;<br />
* Make changes to the New Hampshire/Maine interstate water fishing rules<br />
to:<br />
- change boundary descriptions for Horn Pond and the Salmon Falls<br />
River;<br />
- change the ice fishing season to January 1 - March 31;<br />
- change the closing time for taking smelt at night from 10 p.m. to<br />
midnight;<br />
- change the open water fishing season in the Salmon Falls River to<br />
January 1 - December 31; and<br />
- change the area of Lake Umbagog that is closed to ice fishing.
Another proposed rule being discussed at the hearing would allow the<br />
Department to adopt previously effective rules that have expired and to<br />
readopt with no changes those that will be expiring at various times in<br />
2008. These rules affect persons taking bait, bait dealers and persons<br />
participating in the trophy and state record fish programs. This item does<br />
not propose any changes to what is in current rule or had previously existed<br />
in rule.
The complete fishing rulemaking notice forms, with original and proposed<br />
rule language, may be found at<br />
http://www.wildlife.state.nh.us/Legislat...ummary.htm.
Written comments on the proposed changes may be submitted by August 3,<br />
2007. E-mail to comments@wildlife.nh.gov (please specify "Comments on<br />
Fishing Rules" in subject line); fax to (603) 271-1438; or mail to Executive<br />
Director, N.H. Fish and Game Department, 11 Hazen Drive, Concord, NH 03301.Â
The New Hampshire Fish and Game Department is the guardian of the state's<br />
fish, wildlife and marine resources and their habitats. Visit<br />
http://www.FishNH.com.